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LEOMINSTER -- The resumption of the state Gaming Commission's community hearing to collect input on a proposed slots casino along Jungle Road lacked the fervor and duration seen at the opening of the hearing Dec. 3, when supporters and opponents took more than five hours to address the commission.

Tuesday night's meeting was focused on developments that have taken place since the December hearing, including the signings of surrounding-community agreements between The Cordish Companies, which is proposing a slots casino on Jungle Road, and Fitchburg and Bolton.

It was over in about 50 minutes after supporters touted jobs and economic development compared to opponents, who argued that a slots casino will lead to an increase in such social ills as crime and addictions.

Bolton Town Administrator Donald Lowe talks before the Gaming Commission at a hearing Tuesday in Leominster City Hall on a proposed slots parlor in Leominster.
SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / JOHN LOVE

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The commission expects to decide what company will get the license by March 7.

"We've been moving as promptly as is consistent with due diligence, and plan to continue that," Commissioner James McHugh said after the hearing.

The Cordish Companies, of Baltimore, Md., is competing with proposals in Plainville and Raynham for the state's only slots-casino license.

Cordish is proposing to convert the 125,000-square-foot building at 32 Jungle Road into a slots casino with 1,250 slots and electronic games and also featuring three restaurants and a live entertainment theater.

Leominster signed a host-community agreement to mitigate negative impacts on the city.

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Fitchburg, Sterling, Lunenburg, Princeton, Townsend and Westminster all signed surrounding-community agreements with Cordish.

Leominster stands to get up to $38 million over 10 years under its agreement, though surrounding communities negotiated much smaller deals worth about $5,000 annually each.

Unlike December, when the sidewalks in front of City Hall were crowded with sign-holders for both sides, Daralee Esposito and Donna Fiduccia were the only sign-holders for the No Slots group standing in the bitter cold about a half hour before Tuesday's hearing.

Stephen Mullaney speaks in favor of a proposed slots parlor in Leominster during a hearing of the Gaming Commission's at Leominster City Hall on Tuesday afternoon.
SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / JOHN LOVE

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Dozens of residents from Leominster and surrounding communities were inside City Hall, but the crowd was smaller than the December opening of the hearing.

Jeff Snyder, the vice president of development for Cordish, declined an opportunity to review plans for the casino.

"We're here to listen," Snyder said. "We're proud we signed agreements with all six surrounding communities."

The commission set a five-minute time limit for speakers, but nobody even came close to approaching that mark.

Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong was represented by City Solicitor John Barrett.

The city negotiated its agreement with Cordish, but plans to seek additional funding from the state's community-engagement fund to mitigate impacts on the community, Barrett said.

"While we believe the agreement is less than we believe necessary to address the impacts on our community, we will seek such funds from the community-mitigation fund as are needed to address these concerns," Barrett said.

The Gaming Commission's process so far has been fair and open to the public, Bolton Town Administrator Don Lowe said.

"We finally arrived at an agreement we thought was as fair as possible under the law," Lowe said.

Cordish and Bolton's ability to work out an agreement showed professionalism on both sides, said Steve Mullaney, a director with the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.

"I submit to you both Bolton and Cordish should be congratulated for working diligently," Mullaney said.

Cordish has promised to give developmentally challenged people job opportunities, said Mary Heafy, from the Arc of Opportunity in North Central Massachusetts, with offices in Fitchburg.

"I want to be clear -- a 77 percent unemployment rate, far greater than the rest of the population, even in a tough economy," Heafy said.

Cordish is "offering a foot in the door to change lives," she said.

Anne Hougham of Sterling said her hometown is closer to the proposed slots casino than Bolton or Fitchburg, but there was little talk about impact there.

It's a church-going community and could turn into a honky-tonk town with slots, women and crime, Hougham said.

"I don't see people with disabilities getting jobs in these place if they can't get them in other places," she said.

The creation of construction and ongoing jobs will benefit Fitchburg residents and businesses in the region, said Linda Racine, executive vice president at Rollstone Bank & Trust.

"The local economy needs the construction and permanent jobs," she said.

Tony Mercadante, of Mercadante & Mercadante PC on Mechanic Street in Fitchburg, said he expects to visit the proposed casino if it's built but isn't a fervent gambler.

He recognized the potential for gambling addictions to flourish among casino customers, but there are so many buses heading to other casinos, it makes sense to keep the money local, he said.

Mercadante rejected concerns that a casino in the southeast corner of Leominster will have much impact on traffic in Fitchburg. If there is, he supports Wong's plan to petition for state funding.

"I am strongly in favor of the business locating in Leominster to create jobs," Mercadante said.

Steve Cote, who unsuccessfully ran for City Council last fall, spoke out against the proposed casino. Casinos lead to a deterioration of family values, crime and alcohol abuse, he said.

"You need to invest in small business here," he said.

A slots casino is a long way from being a resort casino, said Charley Valera, owner of FCA Flight Center at Fitchburg Municipal Airport, and will help the airport and other businesses.

David Roth, of 4 The Cause Marketing and Consulting, said his sister lives near Cordish's Maryland! Live casino in Hanover, Md.

"They have been great neighbors, The Cordish Companies, to the area," Roth said.

A casino will create jobs and give young people a reason to stay in the area to work, he added.

A casino will have a ripple effect throughout the business community, including spurring rentals and sales of housing units, local real-estate agent Kayla Nault said.

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